The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-14
WHAT DRAINAGE WILL DO
Tile-Makers Explain How 1t Is Bene-
fetal in Both Wet and Dry Seasons.
The Best Crops Are Produced During Droughts
on Drained Lands-Use of Natural
Gas IN Making Tiles.

Quite large number of mberS were in at
tendancs at the opening session of the Tile and
Drainage Association yesterday morning. The
m Getting was held in the rooms of the State
Agricultural Department, in the new Capitol
The great majority of those present Were In
diana tile-makers, or persons in some way In
terested in tile drainage, but there was large
sprinkline of Ohio men and few from Illinois
and other points The meeting opened with
the annual address by the president, Thomas E.
Chandler, OF this city. His remarks were briet
and were chiefly congratulatory on the progress
of the society in the past and its prospects for
the future. Following him, DR.. r. T. Brown
read a paper 'Tile Drainage as Connected
with Progress in Agriculture" Dr. Brown
started out with the proposition that the water
which saturates the earth must get out in one Of
two ways. 1t must either percolate through to the
underground waterways or evaporate from the
surface. Evaporation reduces the temperature
of the ground very often to point below what
is niece ssary for the vegetation. Farmers can
very readily see the advisability of draining
swamp land but draining uplands is more difficult
to understand. clay subsoil will keep the
ground saturated to within few inches of the
surface. even when the ground is quite undu-
lating. The chief objection to the saturasion
~
necessary to the healthy growth of plants.
Plants die from drowning as we'll as animals,
though they die more slowly. Air exerts both
chemical and mechanical action the soil.
These actions are found to increase from year
to year in tiled lands. Tile drains are more eff
cient after twenty years use than they were at
first. Tile drainage has removed the unsightly
pOnds and swamps formerly common in this
region. but its mission is just begun. 1t will
yet improve our water supply, teach US to make
better roads, and add to the prosperity of the
rural population in'ways now unthought OF.
The afternoon session was opened with paper
on "The Advancement of Our State Association.
The writer held that the objects of the associ-
alton were two-fold-pecuniary and social. He
thought that both ends would be obtained by
free and full discussion of all matters before the
society. If person wants information he ought
to ask for it boldly, and if he has any informa-
ton to impart he ought to impart it boldly.
Every mem Der ought to prepare himself for the
annual meetings by noting all matters OF inter.
est and investigating their causes as fully as
possible. It would he we'll also for committee,
to assign to each member some certain subject
to investigate and report the results to the next
meeting. 1t would also be found valuable for
members to form the habit of communicating
their observations to some agricultural or drain
After discussion of this paper and an inter
esting discussion of methods of drying tile.
paper prepared by D. W. Dame, of Lanark, ILL.,.
was read by Mr.. 7. A. Randall. of the Clay
Worker. The subject was THE Effects of Tile
with the proposition that the surface OF the
earth consisted of 70 per cent. water and 81 per
cent land, he maintained that the principal
part of the rainfall must necessarily come from
the oceans. and therefore tile drainage could
have very little effect the amount of rainfall.
During the drought of the past season it was
shown conclusiyely that the best crops were
raised tile-drained lands The grew
rapidly and vigorously such lands when on
adjoining undrained lands it scorched, and was
severely injured If not entirely destroyed.
In fact, under-drainage prevents the effects of
drought because the roots Of plants are enabled
moisture of the earth cannot be exhausted by
ske dry cir. Under-drairage also lengthsns the
growing season for a week or ten DAYS by per-
uniting the air to permeate the ground and
warm it. A number of those present took part
in the discussion of this paper, and every ono
who gave any statement of experience during
the last summer testified that crops, especially
corn did better tiled ground than on that
which was not drained One member told OF
q tract in which the corn Immediately over the
drains was much larger and better than the re-
mainder of the field.
Samuel Cowgirl, of Summitvi1le. Ind. ad-
ural Gas" He said he found great deal of diff
fculty when he first began using natural gas for
fuel, but it was due to not. understanding how
to use it. He tried mixers" but found they
would not do. The plan he now used was to
turn on the gas pure with plenty of draught
It used to take three weeks to dry FOR the kiln,
but with gas he could do it in three days, and
with less loss than by the old method. 1t took
little longer time to burn, but the tile are
more evenly and thoroughly burned. He used
to pay 81 kiln for wood burning. Gas burning
cost but So kiln. there being much less work
and uch less watching required. ~
The meeting concluded with question box
that is, members submitted questions on any
matters which they wished information. and
these were read and considered by the meat
ing. ea